EXTREMELY LARGE PADMAPANI Bronze with copper and silver engraved Tibet , 8th to 9th century Dimensions: Height 51,5 cm by 24 cm by 17 cm Weight: 11.175 grams Created by Kashmiri artists for Guge patrons. The garland made of individually crafted flowers is specific.The body shape and proportions are realistic and include the typically Kashmiri cruciform navel and lobed abdomen. The full face with fleshy small lips is also characteristic as well as the pronounced pectoral muscles. The garment is engraved with a floral and vine motif and held in place with a belt, which may consist of several rows of beading thought to be of Indian origin. Elaborately patterned fabrics as garments and the beaded armbands, anklets and belt were greatly admired in the Guge Kingdom. Following the Kashmiri tradition, the eyes are inlaid with silver and the lips made of copper, metal inlays also are used to colour the lower garment. The tall crescent moon and floral sections of the crown are topped with a jewel and secured with rods. The "Lotus Holder" is seated on a round elevated lotus flower throne attached to a square base with two deers on the left and right side and a face and arms resembling a monkey in the centre. One foot is supported on a small lotus flower. His right hand is resting on the knee holding a large lotus flower stem, while the other hand is gesturing the abhaya mudra, gesture of fearlessness and holding a rosary charm between index finger and thumb. The eyes are slightly downcast and lips smiling softly, the realistically crafted facial features create a benevolent and simultaneously omniscient expression. Provenance: German Art Market 1979 - 1983 1983 - 1997 = Collection Kemper , Zurich (Switzerland) & London (Great Britain) 1998 - 2006 = private Museum , Collection Weiss , Ulm , Germany 2007 - 2016 = Collection Kienzle, Stuttgart , Germany 2017 - present = Asian Art Museum Radevormwald, Germany